Happenings...

2013 came to a close with a multitude of memories, some sorrowful and some joyful. Hopefully, you ended your year with more of the latter. I've been thinking quite a bit about dreams and how a person goes about fulfilling them -we all probably have a box stored in a sunny window-area of our minds that contain things we would like to do. And there is likely a box filled with things we have already done - memories and people, loves, accomplishments, etc. Well, this blog helps me keep these memories handy - just in case, one day, in the way-distant future (Heaven forbid!), I become a bit foggy in the head. And, I can share these memories with my friends and family because you are a huge part of them!
 

We arrived in the West Texas area the first week of Oct. 2013 to spend time with Larry's family - especially his Dad, who was in the hospital. At 93 years old, hospital visits are a concern. We enjoyed his good days - one funny story to share: One day, Archie was helping him with his lunch tray and asked him if he would like some salt and pepper on the food. Mavis, dry-humor and all, said "Why? you can't make that food taste good!" We all fell over laughing. He eventually went home and we continued our visits back at the Cottage. We visited with all of the family - brothers, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, greats, and friends. We really enjoyed the kids and the little babies! 

Pangs of missing Adler finally took over and we headed to the Houston area with a stop off at Proctor Lake and more family & friend visits. There came a big rain and hail storm, knocking off leaves and small branches onto the RV, but thankfully, no real damage. We also stopped off to see Taryn & family in San Antonio - new, sweet baby!   Once back in Houston, we went to the movies with Mac to see "Gravity" in 3D starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. Really enjoyed Star Cinema Grill and the BBQ Sliders! We later enjoyed "The Hunger Games - Catching Fire" at the same theater and our first movie with Adler, Sara & Justin at the new Palladium Theater where we saw "Frozen."

 

It's not all fun and games back in the home area - we took the RV to the shop for slide-out work which was completed in one day and started our various doctor check-ups. We also got the trip to the dentist checked off the list. Halloween was fun - Adler was Batman and we trick-or-treated with him. We enjoyed many play-dates and sleepovers with Adler. He loves trucks, play-doh, super-heroes, Transformers, and Legos. And reading - but don't try to skip any pages! He told Sara that only Mimi could read to him. I promise, I never gave him that idea....

We took a few day trips including a run to Rockport, TX with Darla to visit John & Debbie. I spent a little time in malls - not Larry - but he was always up to a trip to Camping World! Thanksgiving, we enjoyed all the immediate family at Saltgrass Steak House just prior to the actual holiday and we indulged in the Luby's turkey & dressing on Thanksgiving day. We also had the pleasure of attending Adler's Thanksgiving dinner at his school. 

Sara's birthday celebration took place at Nick's Italian Restaurant, her favorite place in the whole world, and we enjoyed a lovely slice of her cake. Our kids get older but I'm counting my birthdays just every-other-year!

We enjoyed a trip to Galveston to visit with Sister and her kids & grandkids and took in the motorcycle rally on the Strand. I had to have my photo taken with a bike - but no, we don't ride!    

Adler's birthday on Christmas Eve: we went to his family party at Sara's house where he had cake and ice cream and off-key singing (at least by me) to mark his turning 4! Then, we had his "friend" party at the Sugar Creek Playscape in January when holiday plans permitted more children to attend. He had a blast! Sara said that she had trouble convincing him that just because he was having another birthday party did not mean he was 5!

Christmas was wonderful! We had lots of food and I made Larry's & the kid's favorite caramel pie.  We just enjoyed our time together - celebrating life and the birth of Christ. You can, with a little planning and juggling, enjoy holidays in small spaces. Of course, Adler made out like a bandit on toys and both he and Larry and enjoyed playing with all of the new gadgets and trucks. Oh, and Adler was adorable in his school program!

We had lots of friend visits and Sister came down for a day of shopping. Mac joined us again for movie day - "Secret Life of Walter Mitty."  We drove 200 miles round trip to our "resident" address in Livingston so that Larry could serve on jury duty. They settled the three cases and he was not required to stay. Phew! Liz had a reason to be in the area so she and Ann Marie drove down, called up Versey and we had an impromptu Escape Ladies outing. We enjoyed good food, wine, and catching up on each other's lives. Went like this: "What medicines are you taking?" "Oh, I'm seeing this doctor...." LOL! Not really - but sort of... seems that at this age, you talk about your health. We did take a stab at painting on wine glasses for a project and it was really fun! Liz turned out to be the real artist in the bunch but all of the glasses turned out pretty and interesting.

  

Before we knew it, we were preparing to move to Rockport, Texas to hang out along the coast, relaxing, away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. We shared hugs and said our good-byes and arrived here at Copano Bay RV Resort on Jan. 15th.

I hope you will dig into your “box” and find a dream you can fulfill this year.

Happy 2014!

  

Enjoy a few random photos - too many to post them all - Out There With Lea & Larry - 

Service Mementos

Service Photos & Mementos

Larry & Dad

Lake Proctor

Mac, Yoda, & I at Star Cinema Grill

Adler is Batman!

Galveston Motorcycle Rally (no, we don't ride!)

Thanksgiving Dinner at Adler's school

RV Craft Playdate

Darla & I with Bucee's Beaver

Salt-dough ornament making with Sara & Adler

Sara's Birthday

Adler's Christmas Program

Sara & Dad at her classroom - 4th Grade Math & Science - Harmony

Adler's Christmas

New green scooter!

 

Adler is 4!

Adler's friend party

Play time!

New Year & Happy Anniversary!

With attitude!  Versey, Ann, Liz & me

Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota - Government Shutdown!

October 1, 2013 - the day we planned to visit Mt. Rushmore was absolutely gorgeous, weather-wise.  Our lovely campground in Custer City, SD had nice tall pines and was a good staging area for day trips.  We visited with our host, Sue, about how to see the majestic carvings despite the Government Shutdown talked about on the news.  We joked about how hard it would be for the government to hang a sheet or something over the granite faces of George, Abe, Tom, & Teddy!

 

We took the suggested "red" scenic route into Custer State Park and traveled Iron Mountain Road to the memorial.  The curvy road had beautiful scenery and interesting loops, bridges, and low tunnels.  We caught our first sighting of the memorial and quickly pulled into the turn-out for photos.  All the while, I just knew we'd be able to drive right up to it and walk through the flags and such - surely just the visitor's center would be closed. 

Well, not so - there were lots of orange cones, vehicles with flashing lights, and uniforms keeping us from turning into the gates.  Very disappointed, we drove on and found a small turn-out to snap a few pictures.  Several people were parking way up the road and literally hiking back, cameras in hand.  With a sour-grapes attitude, we decided that at least we had been a part of history-in-the-making, having been at the great memorial for the first time in our lives on the very first day it was "closed for business" -

Crazy Horse Memorial was just 11 miles down the road - this privately funded park was open!

 

 

 

CLOSED!

 

 

 Crazy Horse Memorial

 

 

 

 

High Plains Western Heritage Museum - Spearfish, South Dakota

We visited the High Plains Western Heritage Museum in Spearfish, SD, a short drive from our campsite.  This beautiful facility was founded to honor the Old West Pioneers and American Indians of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. 

 

Six categories of High Plains History were chosen to be honored:  Pioneering, Cattle & Sheep Ranching, Rodeo, Transportation, American Indians, and Mining.  It was interesting to move through the museum and become part of each theme. 

We both really enjoyed the saddles and an area dedicated to the leather-smith who created things for Tom Selleck to be used in his movies.  The art work was also very beautiful and we enjoyed the passion with which the volunteer talked to us about the museum. 

We took a walk around the outside grounds where implements and artifacts are on display as well as old buildings and a windmill reminding us of times long past.  There were even live longhorn cattle resting in the grass just waiting for their next photo op. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

We chose a cute little campground in Sundance, Wyoming to rest and regroup for a few days.  Sightseeing can be very tiring!  We shopped for steaks and good vegetables and planned evenings under the awing with short day trips around the area. 

 

The first day trip was over to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, with a stop-off in Aladdin for breakfast at Cindy B's.  The whole town's population is 15 and believe it or not is totally for sale... for $1.5 million.  That would include the restaurant, post office, a couple of houses, etc.  At least, that's what I understood.  They probably put that sign up every end of season!

Belle Fourche is located on the northern slopes of the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Because of the admission of Alaska and Hawaii to the U.S. in 1959, it was officially designated as the nearest city to the  point 20 miles north of Belle Fourche as the geographic center of the United States.  There is a beautiful ground-level monument of the U.S. with a large shiny medallion at the center location.

 

Surrounding the monument are flags of each state, beautiful trees, grounds, and visitor center/museum.  Larry enjoyed talking to the staff about John Wayne's movie, The Cowboys, which featured this area as the place cattle were being driven.  Interestingly, the movie was not filmed there. 

 

Weather was beautiful and it was a great day to be outside.